The placement of only as a modifier is more a matter of style and clarity than of grammatical rule. In a sentence like The doctor examined the children, varying the placement of only results in quite different meanings: The doctor only examined the children means that the doctor did nothing else. And The doctor examined only the children means that no one else was examined. Especially in formal writing, the placement of only immediately before what it modifies is often observed: She sold the stock only because she needed the money. However, there has long been a tendency in all varieties of speech and writing to place only before the verb (She only sold the stock because she needed the money), and such placement is rarely confusing.

only

the only, being single or very few in number: the only men left in town were too old to bear arms

2.

(of a child) having no siblings

3.

unique by virtue of being superior to anything else; peerless

4.

one and only

(adjective) incomparable; unique

(as noun) the object of all one's love: you are my one and only

adverb

5.

without anyone or anything else being included; alone: you have one choice only, only a genius can do that

6.

merely or just: it's only Henry

7.

no more or no greater than: we met only an hour ago

8.

(Irish) (intensifier): she was only marvellous, it was only dreadful

9.

used in conditional clauses introduced by if to emphasize the impossibility of the condition ever being fulfilled: if I had only known, this would never have happened

10.

not earlier than; not…until: I only found out yesterday

11.

if only, an expression used to introduce a wish, esp one felt to be unrealizable

12.

only if, never…except when

13.

only too

(intensifier): he was only too pleased to help

most regrettably (esp in the phrase only too true)

sentence connector

14.

but; however: used to introduce an exception or condition: play outside: only don't go into the street

Usage note

In informal English, only is often used as a sentence connector: I would have phoned you, only I didn't know your number. This use should be avoided in formal writing: I would have phoned you if I'd known your number. In formal speech and writing, only is placed directly before the word or words that it modifies: she could interview only three applicants in the morning. In all but the most formal contexts, however, it is generally regarded as acceptable to put only before the verb: she could only interview three applicants in the morning. Care must be taken not to create ambiguity, esp in written English, in which intonation will not, as it does in speech, help to show to which item in the sentence only applies. A sentence such as she only drinks tea in the afternoon is capable of two interpretations and is therefore better rephrased either as she drinks only tea in the afternoon (i.e. no other drink) or she drinks tea only in the afternoon (i.e. at no other time)

only

adj.

Old English ænlic, anlic "only, unique, solitary," literally "one-like," from an "one" (see one) + -lic "-like" (see -ly (1)). Use as an adverb and conjunction developed in Middle English. Distinction of only and alone (now usually in reference to emotional states) is unusual; in many languages the same word serves for both. German also has a distinction in allein/einzig. Phrase only-begotten (mid-15c.) is biblical, translating Latin unigenitus, Greek monogenes. The Old English form was ancenned.